Bottle carrier

ABSTRACT

A carrier for bottled beverages or like articles which is formed from an elongate paperboard blank, cut and scored so as to provide, when set up, a partitioned tray-like container having side and end walls and a bottom wall, the latter being formed by two panels which are integrally hinged to the side walls along one side of the blank and connected by a locking panel in the form of a marginal strip hinged to one bottom wall forming panel on which there are pairs of locking and latching elements adapted to interengage in locking relation in aligned apertures in the margin of the other bottom wall forming panel. A combination handle and partition structure, which is taken from the material along the opposite side of the blank, is integrally hinged at opposite ends, to the top central portions of the end walls, and cross partition straps which are taken from the material at the outer side margin of the blank, and which extend from a hinge connection with the vertically disposed, longitudinal partition and handle structure to integrally hinged glue panels which are secured to the side walls. The longitudinal partition and handle structure is reinforced by panels taken from areas of the blank between outer handle panels and associated cross partition straps and folded so as to be sandwiched between the outer handle panels.

United States Patent 1 Manizza et al.

[ 51 Nov. 26, 1974 BOTTLE CARRIER [73] Assignee: Federal Paper Board Company, Inc.,

Montvale, NJ.

[22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 312,571

[52] US. Cl 206/181, 206/140, 206/171, 206/180 [51] Int. Cl 865d 5/46, B65d 5/48 [58] Field 01 Search....., 229/28 BC, 40, 52 BC; 220/113,l14,l'15;206/140, 181,171,180

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,273,266 2/1942 Himes 220/113 2,733,832 2/1956 Newton 220/113 2,772,020 11/1956 Kramer 220/113 2,774,512 12/1956 Dunning 220/113 3,011,677 12/1961 Struble 220/113 3,268,113 8/1966 Schuster 220/115 3,331,530 7/1967 Wood 220/113 3,411,663 11/1968 Moore et al. 220/115 3,556,386 1/1971 Ganz 229/40 3,752,356 8/1973 Forrer 220/113 Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Assistant ExaminerStephen Marcus Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Guy A. Greenawalt [5 7] ABSTRACT A carrier for bottled beverages or like articles which is formed from an elongate paperboard blank, cut and scored so as to provide, when set up, a partitioned tray-like container having side and end walls and a bottom wall, the latter being formed by two panels which are integrally hinged to the side walls along one side of the blank and connected by a locking panel in the form of a marginal strip hinged to one bottom wall forming panel on which there are pairs of locking and latching elements adapted to interengage in locking relation in aligned apertures in the margin of the other bottom wall forming panel. A combination handle and partition structure, which is taken from the material along the opposite side of the blank, is integrally hinged at opposite ends, to the top central portions of the end walls, and cross partition straps which are taken from the material at the outer side margin of the blank, and which extend from a hinge connection with the vertically disposed, longitudinal partition and handle structure to integrally hinged glue panels which are secured to the side walls. The longitudinal partition and handle structure is reinforced by panels taken from areas of the blank between outer handle panels and associated cross partition straps and folded so as to be sandwiched between the outer handle panels.

12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEL HEY 26 I974 SHEEI 3 BF, 4

BOTTLE CARRIER This invention relates to the packaging of articles, for example, beverage bottles, or similar articles, and is more particularly concerned with improvements in basket-style, multi-cellular carriers or cartons for packaging a plurality of the articles and an arrangement for fabricating the same from paperboard or other foldable sheet material of a similar character.

In the marketing of certain products, for example, bottled beverages, cartons or carriers have long been employed which are of basket-like configuration with a multiplicity of cells designed to hold the articles, generally six, eight or twelve in number, and which are fabricated from foldable sheet material, such as, paperboard, or the like. Cartons or carriers of this type have been fabricated in collapsed condition in which they are delivered to the bottling plant of the user where they are opened up and filled with bottles for delivery to retail outlets or the like. A common form of such carrier or cellular basket which has been used extensively comprises two rows of bottle accommodating cells separated by a combination handle and partition member which has its opposite ends hinged to middle portions of the end walls and which is connected to the side walls by bottle separating cross straps extending in longitudinally spaced, transverse planes and hinged at opposite ends to the side walls and to a panel of the partition member. This type carrier may be fabricated from an elongate blank divided by transverse creases or scores into wall and partition forming panels or sections with a pair of bottom forming panels extending along the one side margin of the blank which are hinged to the side wall panels. The two bottom wall forming panels may be connected when the carrier is set up by providing on one of the panels a relatively narrow marginal panel having locking and latching elements for engaging in apertures in the other bottom wall forming panel or by other connecting means. This type carrier may be formed from an elongate blank with the handle and partition portions extending along one side thereof and the bottom wall forming panels extending along the other side thereof. When formed in this manner, it is desirable to provide for nesting along at least one side of the blank so that a plurality of the blanks may be cut from a relatively wide web with a minimum loss of material. One fonn of carton of this type is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,460,229, granted Jan. 25, 1949 to Samuel N. Lebold. Another form of this type carrier is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 62,360, filed Aug. 10, 1970. In the design of these carriers the cells on each side of the longitudinal partition and handle structure are separated by cross straps which are taken from an area of the blank between the side wall panels and the longitudinal partition and handle panels. This has the effect of limiting the height of the side walls relative to the height of the longitudinal partition and handle structure. A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved bottle carrier of the cellular basket type which may be fabricated from an elongate blank with partition forming elements taken from one side of the blank and bottom wall forming panels taken from the opposite side of the blank so as to permit maximum economy in utilization of material, more flexibility in the arrangement of the partition panels, and easier assembly of the carrier and the bottles so as to achieve high volume production.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-cellular basket-type carrier having a longitudinal partition and handle structure which is integrally connected at its opposite ends to middle portions of the end walls and which has cross partition straps cut from longitudinal partition panels and connected by glue flaps to the inner faces of the side walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a basket-type carrier having side and end walls and a pair of bottom wall panels hinged to the side walls with interengaging locking means together with a longitudinal partition structure which is hinged at opposite ends to the end walls and having handle reinforcing panels which are turned inwardly from hinge connections at the ends thereof and sandwiched betweenouter handle panels and having cross partition straps cut from the longitudinal partition panels which are connected to the inner faces of the side walls by hinged glue flaps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a basket-type carrier having side and end walls and a pair of bottom wall panels hinged to the side walls with interengaging locking means together with a longitudinal partition structure which is hingedly connected at its opposite ends to the end walls by glue flaps which are integrally hinged to the top edge of the end wall panels and which have handle reinforcing panels turned down from hinge connections at the top edge of the handle forming panels, together with cross partition straps which are cut from the longitudinal partition panels and connected to the inner faces of the side walls by hinged glue flaps.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible carrier of the basket type having hingedly connected side and end walls and a longitudinal partition structure which is hingedly connected at its opposite ends to the end walls through glue flaps which are hinged to the top edges of the end walls with cross partition straps which are cut from longitudinal partition panels and connected to the inner faces of the side walls so that they are disposed below the handle forming panels and intermediate the top and bottom edges of the side wall forming panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible carrier of the cellular basket type having hingedly connected side and end wall forming panels and a longitudinal partition and handle structure which is hingedly connected at its opposite ends to the end wall forming panels by means of glue flaps, each of which is turned down from a hinged connection with the top edge of an end wall forming panel, and cross partition straps which are cut from longitudinal partition panels and connected to the inside faces of the side wall forming panels by integrally hinged glue flaps, together with bottom wall forming panels which are hinged to the bottom edges of the side wall forming panels and which have their free edges overlapped and locked together and transverse and longitudinal cell separating panel members cut from the bottom wall forming panels and turned upwardly, at least one of which is taken from the free margin of one of the bottom wall forming panels.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible cellular carrier of the basket type which is fabricated from an elongate blank of paperboard or similar material wherein hingedly connected side and end wall panels are taken from the center portion of the blank while longitudinal partition and handle forming panels are taken from one side margin of the blank with cross partition straps cut in the outer side margin thereof and wherein bottom forming panels are taken from the opposite side margin of the blank and spaced longitudinally so as to permit nesting when a plurality of blanks are cut from a wide web.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the bottle carton or carrier structures which are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier which incorporates therein the principal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a blank which is cut and scored for fabricating the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing portions of the blank of FIG. 4 following certain folding and gluing operations;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the carrier of FIG. 1 in collapsed condition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the bottle carrier;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, with portions broken away;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7, with portions broken away;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a blank which is cut and scored for fabricating the carrier of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a partial plan view showing portions of the blank of FIG. 10 following certain folding and gluing operations; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the carrier of FIG. 7 in collapsed condition.

The carrier or carton of FIG. 1 is best understood by reference first to the cut and scored blank 10 which is employed for fabricating the carrier and which is illustrated in FIG. 4. The blank 10 is of generally rectangular form and is cut from foldable sheet material, preferably paperboard stock of suitable size and weight. The blank 10 is cut and scored so as to provide a plurality of rectangular panels which are adapted to form the side and end walls of the carrier, together with associated panels disposed along one side margin of the blank which are adapted to form a partition and handle structure, and a pair of bottom wall forming panels disposed along the opposite side margin of the blank.

The blank 10 is scored on longitudinally spaced, transverse lines 11, 12, 13 and 14, which form connecting hinge lines between an end wall half panel 15 at one end of the blank, a side wall panel 16, an end wall panel 17, and a side wall panel 18 and end wall half panel 20 at the opposite end of the blank. The two end wall half panels 15 and 20, at opposite ends of the blank, are adapted to co-operate in forming the one end wall of the carrier, the other end wall being formed by panel 17 which is disposed between the side wall forming panels 16 and 18. The score lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 terminate along one side of the blank at longitudinally extending cutting lines 22 and 23 which, together with the associated score lines 24 and 25-separate from the wall forming panels side marginal blank portions or sections 26 and 27 which are subdivided to provide longitudinal partition and handle panels and also cross partition panels or straps which are cut from portions thereof.

The one longitudinal partition and handle section 26 extends from the left end of the blank, as viewed in FIG. 4, to a transverse cutting line 28 which separates the same from the other longitudinal partition and handle section 27. The two handle and partition forming sections 26 and 27 are subdivided in an identical manner and only one thereof will be described in detail with corresponding parts of the other being indicated by the same numerals primed.

The handle and partition forming section 26 is scored on the transverse line 30 which, together with the longitudinal line 24, defines a connecting panel 31 which is adapted to hinge on the score line 24 into face engagement with the end wall panel 15. The panel 26 is further divided by spaced transverse score lines 32, 33 and 34, the distance between the score lines 30 and 34 being equal to the distance between the score lines 11 and 12, and the distance between the score lines 30, 32, 33 and 34 being one-third the lengthwise distance of the side wall panels 16 and 18 and approximately onehalf the distance between the score lines 12 and 13. The blank section 26 is cut on longitudinal lines 35 and 36 which are laterally spaced relative to the longitudinal cutting line 22 and to each other and are generally parallel with the cutting line 22. The longitudinal cutting line 35 extends from the inner end of the blank section 26 to approximately the transverse score line 32. The area bounded by the score lines 32, 33 and the portions of the cutting lines 35 and 36 extending between these score lines defines a cross partition forming panel or strap member 37. The area between the score line 38, which forms a lateral extension of the score line 33, and the score line 34 together with the portion of the cutting line 36 and the blank edge 40 which extends between these score lines constitutes a second cross partition forming panel or strap member 42. The blank section 26 is cut at its inner end on a transverse line 43 which results in an L-shaped panel 44 having one leg thereof defined by portions of the cutting lines 35 and 36 and the transverse score line 33 with the other leg thereof defined by the transverse score line 34, the transverse cutting line 43 and the side edge 40 of the blank. A longitudinal score line 47 is disposed between the cutting line 22 and the portion 48 of the cutting line 35 and extends between longitudinally spaced, transverse cutting lines 50 and 51, with the latter extending from the ends of the score line 47 to the cutting line portion 48 and resulting in an integrally hinged hand hole reinforcing panel 52 and an aperture, formed by cutting out the panel 52 which constitutes a hand hole or finger hole 53 (FIG. 2) for gripping the handle panel structure. The finger hole 53 is located in the center portion, longitudinally, of the handle forming outer on the outer edge coincides with the innermost half portion of the hand hole aperture 53.

The blank section 27 is cut and scored in the same manner as the blank section 26 to provide a glue panel 31' which is hinged on the score line to the end wall panel 17 so that the transverse score line falls on the center of the panel 17. This blank section is otherwise cut and scored to provide cross partition panels 37, 42 and associated glue flap 44 together with the handle panel 54, handle reinforcing panel 56' and hand hole 53 with its associated reinforcing panel 52.

At the opposite side of the blank bottom wall forming panels 60' and 61 are separated from the associated side wall panels 16 and 18 by longitudinally aligned hinge forming scores 62 and 63, the two panels 61 and 60 being spaced a distance so as to permit nesting with the bottom wall panels of another blank when the blanks are cut from a wide web. The one wall panel 61 adjoins the side wall panel 18 and is scored on the longitudinal line 64 to divide therefrom along the side margin a relatively narrow locking panel 65. The locking panel 65 has spaced along its hinge line 64 a plurality of generally C-shaped cuts 66 defining locking tabs 67 and oppositely disposed latching tabs or fingers 68 are cut in the margin at the free side edge of the panel 65. The locking tabs 66 and latching fingers 68 are adapted to co-operate with locking apertures 70 spaced along the outer side margin of the other bottom wall forming panel 60. The locking panel 65 and associated latching and locking elements 67 and 68 may be of the same construction as shown and described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,593. The bottom wall forming panels 60 and 61 are provided with a series of apertures 71 which are spaced along the score lines 62 and 63 and serve the dual purpose of providing bottle heel holes and openings for engagement by tightening fingers, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,386, for insuring proper alignment and proper interlocking of the locking and latching elements 67, 68 in the openings 70 when the bottom wall panels are closed on an assembly of bottles.

In fabricating or assembling the carrier or carton an adhesive is applied to the uppermost faces of panels 31, 31; 44, 44 and to the bottom faces of panels 56, 56' as viewed in FIG. 4. The panels 56, 56 are first folded on the score lines 55 and 55 into engagement with the outer faces of the handle panels 54 and 54' and the handle and partition forming portions of the blank are then folded about the score lines 24 and 25 into engagement with the inner faces of the end and side wall panels 15, 16 and 17, 18 so as to bring the same into the position shown in FIG. 5. An adhesive is then applied to one of the partition and handle sections as indicated in FIG. 5 and also to the end marginal portion 72 of the end wall panel 20 which is adapted to overlap the marginal portion of the co-operating end wall panel 15. Thereafter, the blank is folded on the score lines 14 and 12 to complete the fabrication in collapsed condition which is shown in FIG. 6.

A modified form of the carrier or carton of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 7. The cut and scored blank 110 which is employed for fabricating the modified carrier is illustrated in FIG. 10. The blank 110 is of generally rectangular form and is cut from paperboard of suitable size and weight or other foldable sheet material. The blank 110 is cut and scored so as to provide side and end wall panels together with associated panels, disposed along one side margin of the blank, which are adapted to form a partition and handle structure, and a pair of panels disposed along the opposite side margin of the blank for forming a bottom wall.

The main portion of the blank is scored on longitudinally spaced, transverse lines 111, 112, 113 and 114 which form connecting hinge lines between an end wall half panel 115 at one end of the blank, a side wall panel 116, an end wall panel 117, and a side wall panel 118 and end wall half panel 120 at the opposite end of the blank. The two end wall half panels 115 and 120, at opposite ends of the blank, are adapted to cooperate in forming the one end wall of the carrier, the other end wall being formed by panel 117 which is disposed between the side wall forming panels 116 and 118. The score lines 111, 112, 113 and 114 tenninate along one side of the blank at longitudinally extending cutting lines 122 and 123 which, together with the associated transverse score lines 124 and 125 separate from the wall forming panels side marginal blank portions or sections 126 and 127 which are subdivided to provide longitudinal partition and handle panels and also cross partition forming panels or strap members which are cut from portions thereof. The cutting lines 122 and 123 free the blank sections 126 and 127 for hinging about the transverse score lines 124 and 125 which are located on the center line of the carrier end wall formed by connecting the two panels 115 and 120 and the center line of the single end wall forming panel 117.

The two handle and partition forming sections 126 and 127 are subdivided in an identical manner and only one thereof will be described in detail with corresponding parts of the other being indicated by the same numerals primed. The longitudinal partition and handle section 126 extends from the outer end of score line 124 at the left end of the blank, as viewed in FIG. 10, to a transverse cutting line 128 which is spaced from the transverse score line 112 approximately one third the distance between the transverse score lines 111 and 112. A transverse score line 130 which is aligned with the score line 124 separates from the blank section 126 a glue panel 131 which is adapted to be secured to the inner face of the end wall panel 115. v

The panel 126 is further divided by spaced, transverse score lines 132, 133 and 134, the distance between the score lines 130 and 134 being equal to the distance between the score lines 111 and 112 and the distance between the score lines 130, 132, 133 and 134 being one third the lengthwise distance of the side wall panel 116 and approximately one half the distance between the score lines 112 and 113. The blank section 126 is cut on longitudinal lines 135 and 136 which are laterally spaced relative to the longitudinal cutting line 122 and to each other and are generally parallel with the cutting line 122. The longitudinal cutting line 135 extends from the inner end of the blank section 126 to approximately the transverse score line 132. The area bounded by the score lines 132, 133 and the portions of the cutting lines 135 and 136 extending between these score lines defines a cross partition forming panel or strap member 137. The area between the score line 138, which is an end extension of the score line 133, and the score line 134, together with the portion of the cutting line 136 and the blank edge 140, which extends between these score lines, constitutes a second cross partition forming panel or strap member 142. The cross partition forming portion of the blank section 126 is cut at its inner end on a transverse line 143 which results in an L-shaped glue panel 144 having one leg thereof defined by portions of the cutting lines 135 and 136 and the transverse score line 133 with the other leg thereof defined by the transverse score line 134, the transverse cutting line 143 and the side edge of the blank 140. A longitudinal score line 145 extends from the outer end of transverse score line 124, between the longitudinal cutting lines 122 and 135, to the middle of transverse cutting line 128, which divides the blank section so as to provide an outer handle panel 146 on the inner side of the blank section 126. A longitudinal score line 147 is disposed between the cutting line 122 and the score line 146 and extends between longitudinally spaced, transverse cutting lines 150 and 151, with the latter extending to the cutting line 122 and resulting in a hand hole reinforcing panel 152 and an aperture 153, formed by cutting out the panel 152 which constitutes a hand hole or finger hole for gripping the handle panel structure. The finger hole 153 is located in the center portion, longitudinally of the handle forming panel 146 which extends between the transverse score line 124 and a transverse cutting line 128. A corresponding hand hole forming aperture 154 is provided in the handle reinforcing panel portion 155 of the material by cutting on the line 55 on the opposite side of the score line 145 so as to align with the aperture 153 when the blank is folded.

The blank section 127 is cut and scored in the same manner as the blank section 126 to provide a glue panel 131, which is hinged on the score line 130, and to provide cross partition panels 137, 142' and associated glue flap 144 together with the handle panel 146 having hand hole 153 with associated reinforcing panel 152 and handle reinforcing panel portion with hand hole 154.

At the opposite side of the blank, bottom wall forming panels 160 and 161 are separated from the associated side wall panels 116 and 118 by longitudinally aligned hinge forming scores 162 and 163, the two panels 160 and 161 being spaced a distance so as to permit nesting with the bottom wall panels of another blank when the blanks are cut from a wide web. The one wall panel 161 adjoins the side wall panel 118 and is scored on the longitudinal line 164 to divide therefrom along the side margin a relatively narrow locking panel 165. The locking panel 165 has spaced along its hinge line 164 a plurality of generally C-shaped cuts 166 defining locking tabs 167 and oppositely disposed latching tabs or fingers 168 are cut in the margin at the free side edge of the panel 165. The locking tabs 166 and latching fingers 168 are adapted to co-operate with correspondingly spaced locking apertures 170 in the other bottom wall forming panel 160. The locking panel 165 and associated latching and locking elements 167 and 168 may be of the same construction as shown and described in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,589,593. The bottom wall forming panels 160 and 161 are provided with a series of apertures 171 which are spaced along the score lines 162 and 163 and serve the dual purpose of providing bottle heel holes and openings for engagement by tightening fingers, such as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,556,386, for insuring proper alignment and proper interlocking of the locking and latching elements 167, 168 in the openings when the bottom wall panels are closed on an assembly of bottles.

The bottom wall forming panel 160 has its outer margin cut and scored to provide a bottom longitudinal partition and separation panel 172 which is adapted to hinge on the score line 173 into longitudinal partition forming relation as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The panel 172 is freed for hinging movement by cutting on generally C-shaped lines 174. Both bottom wall forming panels are provided with bottle bottom separating tabs 175, 175', formed by cutting on the lines 176, 176, which hinge on transverse score lines 177, 177' as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in the set up position of the carrier. The location of the bottom separating tabs 175, 175' will be determined by the configuration of the bottles which the carrier is designed to accommodate. The bottle separating tabs or fingers 175, 175 may be aligned vertically with the cross partition straps in defining the cell structures and providing separation for the particular bottles for which it is intended the carrier will be used.

The cut and scored blank 110 is supplied with an ad hesive on the panels 131, 131, 144, 144 and the handle reinforcing portions of the blank sections 126 and 127, as shown in FIG. 10 and the blank sections 126 and 127 are folded about the score lines 145, 145 to the position shown in FIG. 11. An adhesive is applied to one of the blank sections 126 or 127 and to the end marginal portion 180 of the panel 120 after which the partially folded blank is further folded on the lines 114 and 112 to complete the carrier in collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 12.

We claim:

1. A multi-cellular article carrier which is formed from an elongate blank of foldable sheet material cut and scored to provide, in erected condition, hingedly connected body forming side, end wall and bottom wall panels, a multi-panel longitudinal partition and handle structure extending in depending relation from the top edges of said end wall panels and connected at its opposite ends to center portions of the end wall panels by glue tabs, said glue tabs being integrally hinged to the top edges of the end wall panels and extending down along the inside faces of said end wall panels, and cross partition forming strap members which are spaced longitudinally so as to divide the space on each side of the longitudinal partition and handle structure into a plurality of bottle accommodating cells of equal size, which cross partition forming strap members are taken from panels in the longitudinal partition structure and are each connected at one end thereof by a glue tab to the inside face of a side wall panel, with the opposite end of each of said cross partition strap members extending to an integral hinge connection with the panel of said longitudinal partition and handle structure from which the strap member is taken.

2. A collapsible multi-cellular article carrier which is formed from an elongate blank of foldable sheet material cut and scored to provide, when in erected condition, body forming, upstanding side and end walls and a bottom wall which bottom wall comprises two panel members which are integrally hinged along one edge thereof to the bottom edges of oppositely disposed side walls and which have interengaging locking means in the margins which are opposite the hinged connection with the side walls, a multi-ply longitudinal partition and handle structure which is hingedly connected at its opposite ends to the oppositely disposed end walls on vertical hinge lines and disposed intermediate said side walls so as to provide bottle receiving space on each side thereof, said longitudinal partition and handle structure having glue panels integrally hinged to a ply thereof which are adhered to the inner faces of the end walls and extend downwardly along said vertical hinge lines, and cross partition forming strap members dividing said space on opposite sides of the longitudinal partition and handle structure into a plurality of article accommodating cells of equal size, which cross partition forming strap members are taken from a ply of the longitudinal partition and handle structure, said cross partition forming strap members each being connected at one end by an integrally hinged glue tab to the inside face of a side wall, with the opposite end of each said cross partition forming strap member having an integrally hinged connection with the ply of said longitudinal partition and handle structure from which said cross partition strap member is taken.

3. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cross partition forming strap members are arranged in pairs and each pair is connected to the inside face of a side wall by a glue tab which is integrally hinged to each strap member of the pair thereof.

4. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 3 wherein each pair of said cross partition forming strap members is cut from a single ply of said longitudinal partition and handle structure which extends below the handle forming portion thereof and wherein said integrally hinged glue tab is attached to the associated side wall at a point below the top edge of said side wall.

5. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cross partition forming strap members are cut from a ply of the longitudinal partition and handle structure which extends below the handle forming portions of said structure.

6. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cross partition forming strap members are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of said longitudinal partition and handle structure and the strap members of each pair thereof are hingedly connected to a common glue tab which glue tab is secured to the inside face of a side wall.

7. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein panels for separating the articles at the bottoms thereof are cut in said bottom wall panel members and folded into planes upstanding from said bottom wall panel members so as to be disposed between bottom portions of the bottles.

8. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least one of said panels for separating the articles at the bottoms comprises a hinged marginal portion on one of said bottom wall forming panel members which is hinged into a vertical plane when the carrier is in erected condition.

9. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said bottom wall panel members is provided with spaced apertures and the co-operating bottom wall panel member is provided with a relatively narrow locking panel having locking and latching tab members which are engaged in locking relation in said spaced apertures when the carrier is in erected condition.

it). An elongate blank of foldable sheet material which is cut and scored for fabricating a collapsible multi-cellular carrier for bottled products or similar articles, which carrier, in erected condition, is characterized by having an open top with body forming side and end walls in upstanding relation to a bottom wall, a multi-ply longitudinal partition and handle structure which is connected at its opposite ends to the end walls on vertical hinge lines and cross partition forming strap members dividing the space on each side of the longitudinal partition and handle structure into a plurality of articles accommodating cells of equal size, said blank being divided by transverse score lines into side wall and end wall forming panels, longitudinally spaced bottom wall forming panels extending laterally of a hinge forming longitudinal score line at one side of the side wall forming panels, longitudinal partition and handle forming panel sections extending laterally along the opposite sides of the side wall forming panels and offset in the lengthwise direction of the blank relative to the side wall forming panels, said partition and handle forming panel sections being freed in part by longitudinal cutting lines extending along the side wall forming panels and portions of the end wall forming panels and being freed at one end by transverse cutting lines, said partition and handle forming panel sections having hinge forming transverse scores at the opposite ends which define one side edge of a glue panel, each of said Partition and handle forming sections being integrally connected to an end wall forming panel along a relatively short hinge forming score line, and cross partition strap forming members cut in the outermost side margins of the longitudinal partition and handle forming panel sections which cross partition forming strap members each have opposite ends terminating at a hinge forming score line extending transversely of the blank and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction approximately one half the longitudinal dimension of an end wall forming panel.

11. An elongate blank as set forth in claim 10 wherein said longitudinal partition and handle forming panel sections each include a handle forming portion and a handle reinforcing panel which extends from a hinge forming transverse score line at the free end of said handle forming panel section.

12. An elongate blank as set forth in claim 10 wherein said longitudinal partition and handle forming sections each include an outer handle forming panel cut in the material adjoining the side wall forming panels and a handle panel reinforcing portion taken from the material extending laterally of said outer handle forming panel.

l i i 

1. A multi-cellular article carrier which is formed from an elongate blank of foldable sheet material cut and scored to provide, in erected condition, hingedly connected body forming side, end wall and bottom wall panels, a multi-panel longitudinal partition and handle structure extending in depending relation from the top edges of said end wall panels and connected at its opposite ends to center portions of the end wall panels by glue tabs, said glue tabs being integrally hinged to the top edges of the end wall panels and extending down along the inside faces of said end wall panels, and cross partition forming strap members which are spaced longitudinally so as to divide the space on each side of the longitudinal partition and handle structure into a plurality of bottle accommodating cells of equal size, which cross partition forming strap members are taken from panels in the longitudinal partition structure and are each connected at one end thereof by a glue tab to the inside face of a side wall panel, with the opposite end of each of said cross partition strap members extending to an integral hinge connection with the panel of said longitudinal partition and handle structure from which the strap member is taken.
 2. A collapsible multi-cellular article carrier which is formed from an elongate blank of foldable sheet material cut and scored to provide, when in erected condition, body forming, upstanding side and end walls and a bottom wall which bottom wall comprises two panel members which are integrally hinged along one edge thereof to the bottom edges of oppositely disposed side walls and which have interengaging locking means in the margins which are opposite the hinged connection with the side walls, a multi-ply longitudinal partition and handle structure which is hingedly connected at its opposite ends to the oppositely disposed end walls on vertical hinge lines and disposed intermediate said side walls so as to provide bottle receiving space on each side thereof, said longitudinal partition and handle structure having glue panels integrally hinged to a ply thereof which are adhered to the inner faces of the end walls and extend downwardly along said vertical hinge lines, and cross partition forming strap members dividing said space on opposite sides of the longitudinal partition and handle structure into a plurality of article accommodating cells of equal size, which cross partition forming strap members are taken from a ply of the longitudinal partition and handle structure, said cross partition forming strap members each being connected at one end by an integrally hinged glue tab to the inside face of a side wall, with the opposite end of each said cross partition forming strap member having an integrally hinged connection with the ply of said longitudinal partition and handle structure from which said cross partition strap member is taken.
 3. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cross partition forming strap members are arranged in pairs and each pair is connected to the inside face of a side wall by a glue tab which is integrally hinged to each strap member of the pair thereof.
 4. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 3 wherein each pair of said cross partition forming strap members is cut from a single ply of said longitudinal partition and handle structure which extends below the handle forming portion thereof and wherein said integrally hinged glue tab is attached to the associated side wall at a point below the top edge of said side wall.
 5. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cross partition forming strap meMbers are cut from a ply of the longitudinal partition and handle structure which extends below the handle forming portions of said structure.
 6. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cross partition forming strap members are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of said longitudinal partition and handle structure and the strap members of each pair thereof are hingedly connected to a common glue tab which glue tab is secured to the inside face of a side wall.
 7. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein panels for separating the articles at the bottoms thereof are cut in said bottom wall panel members and folded into planes upstanding from said bottom wall panel members so as to be disposed between bottom portions of the bottles.
 8. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least one of said panels for separating the articles at the bottoms comprises a hinged marginal portion on one of said bottom wall forming panel members which is hinged into a vertical plane when the carrier is in erected condition.
 9. A multi-cellular carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said bottom wall panel members is provided with spaced apertures and the co-operating bottom wall panel member is provided with a relatively narrow locking panel having locking and latching tab members which are engaged in locking relation in said spaced apertures when the carrier is in erected condition.
 10. An elongate blank of foldable sheet material which is cut and scored for fabricating a collapsible multi-cellular carrier for bottled products or similar articles, which carrier, in erected condition, is characterized by having an open top with body forming side and end walls in upstanding relation to a bottom wall, a multi-ply longitudinal partition and handle structure which is connected at its opposite ends to the end walls on vertical hinge lines and cross partition forming strap members dividing the space on each side of the longitudinal partition and handle structure into a plurality of articles accommodating cells of equal size, said blank being divided by transverse score lines into side wall and end wall forming panels, longitudinally spaced bottom wall forming panels extending laterally of a hinge forming longitudinal score line at one side of the side wall forming panels, longitudinal partition and handle forming panel sections extending laterally along the opposite sides of the side wall forming panels and offset in the lengthwise direction of the blank relative to the side wall forming panels, said partition and handle forming panel sections being freed in part by longitudinal cutting lines extending along the side wall forming panels and portions of the end wall forming panels and being freed at one end by transverse cutting lines, said partition and handle forming panel sections having hinge forming transverse scores at the opposite ends which define one side edge of a glue panel, each of said partition and handle forming sections being integrally connected to an end wall forming panel along a relatively short hinge forming score line, and cross partition strap forming members cut in the outermost side margins of the longitudinal partition and handle forming panel sections which cross partition forming strap members each have opposite ends terminating at a hinge forming score line extending transversely of the blank and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction approximately one half the longitudinal dimension of an end wall forming panel.
 11. An elongate blank as set forth in claim 10 wherein said longitudinal partition and handle forming panel sections each include a handle forming portion and a handle reinforcing panel which extends from a hinge forming transverse score line at the free end of said handle forming panel section.
 12. An elongate blank as set forth in claim 10 wherein said longitudinal partition and handle forming sections each include an outer handle forming panel cut in the material adjoiniNg the side wall forming panels and a handle panel reinforcing portion taken from the material extending laterally of said outer handle forming panel. 